Have you ever wondered why some couples seem to get pregnant by just glancing at each other, while others tread a steeper path?
It turns out, growing a family is a complex puzzle where age is just one piece.
Factors Limiting Your Fertility
For many years, the basic understanding of fertility has remained the same. Age is often the determining factor, especially for women.
Babies born with ovaries have about 1-2 million eggs. Before puberty, about 10,000 eggs per month die. Once puberty starts, only 300,000 to 400,000 eggs remain, and during menstruation, approximately 1,000 immature eggs are lost every month.
On average, Australian women have their first child at the age of 30 [1], leaving them with between 100,000 to 150,000 eggs. Unfortunately, the quality of these eggs is often poor.
What’s alarming is that no new eggs are made in a female’s lifetime. Men are not immune to the effects of age on sperm quantity and quality.
However, the impact on sperm quality is sometimes felt much later, after 40 years or more.
Although age has a significant impact on fertility, it is not the only factor. There are many other factors that can affect your ability to conceive and have a healthy baby. Some of these factors are within your control, while others are not.
Some of these factors may be obvious, while others may be hidden or unknown.
Here we will explore some of the other factors that can limit your fertility and what you can do about them.
Lifestyle factors
Your lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on your fertility. Some of the lifestyle factors that can limit your fertility include:
Smoking: Smoking can damage your reproductive organs and reduce your fertility in both men and women. Smoking can also increase the risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, low birth weight and birth defects. [2].
If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do to improve your fertility and your health.
Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can affect your hormone levels and interfere with ovulation in women and sperm production in men. Alcohol can also increase the risk of miscarriage and fetal alcohol syndrome [2].
If you drink alcohol, limit your intake to no more than one or two standard drinks per day and avoid binge drinking.
Drugs: Using illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine can impair your fertility in both men and women. Drugs can also increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects. [2].
If you use drugs, seek help to stop as soon as possible.
Weight: Being overweight or underweight can affect your hormone balance and ovulation in women and sperm quality in men.
Weight can also affect your chances of success with assisted reproductive treatment (ART). [3]
If you are overweight or underweight, aim for a healthy body mass index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9.
Exercise: Moderate exercise can improve your physical and mental health and your fertility in both men and women. However, too much or too little exercise can have negative effects on your fertility.
Too much exercise can cause hormonal imbalances and ovulation problems in women and reduce sperm count in men. [4]
Too little exercise can lead to weight gain and obesity-related infertility problems. [4]
If you exercise, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
Stress: Stress can affect your mood, your libido and your fertility in both men and women.
Stress can cause hormonal imbalances and ovulation problems in women and reduce sperm quality in men.
Stress can also affect your relationship with your partner and your ability to cope with infertility.
If you are stressed, try to find healthy ways to relax and manage your stress levels such as meditation, yoga, counselling or support groups.
Environmental factors
Your environment can also influence your fertility. Some of the environmental factors that can limit your fertility include:
Heat: Exposure to high temperatures can affect sperm production in men. Sources of heat include hot baths, saunas, electric blankets, laptops and tight underwear.
If you are a man trying to conceive, avoid exposing your testicles to excessive heat and wear loose-fitting clothing.
Toxins: Exposure to certain chemicals or pollutants can affect hormone levels and reproductive function in both men and women.
Sources of toxins include pesticides, herbicides, solvents, metals, plastics and radiation.
If you are exposed to toxins at work or at home, try to reduce or avoid contact with them and wear protective clothing or equipment.
Medications: Some medications can affect fertility in both men and women by interfering with hormone levels or reproductive function.
Examples of medications that can affect fertility include antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and chemotherapy.
If you are taking any medications, check with your doctor if they can affect your fertility and if there are any alternatives or adjustments you can make.
Infections: Some infections can cause inflammation or damage to the reproductive organs in both men and women.
Examples of infections that can affect fertility include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B and C, HIV and mumps.
If you have or suspect you have any infections, seek medical treatment as soon as possible and practice safe sex to prevent transmission.
Genetic factors
Some people may have inherited genetic conditions that can affect their fertility. Some of the genetic factors that can limit your fertility include:
Chromosomal abnormalities: Some people may have an extra or missing chromosome or a part of a chromosome that can affect their reproductive development or function.
Examples of chromosomal abnormalities that can affect fertility include Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.
Gene mutations: Some people may have changes in their DNA that can affect their reproductive function or cause inherited diseases.
Examples of gene mutations that can affect fertility include cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and hemophilia.
Family history: Some people may have a family history of infertility or reproductive problems that can increase their risk of having similar issues.
Examples of family history factors that can affect fertility include early menopause, endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids and male infertility.
If you have any known or suspected genetic conditions or family history of infertility, you may benefit from genetic testing or counselling to assess your risk and options.
References:
[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Australia’s mothers and babies 2019—in brief. Canberra: AIHW.
[2] Your Fertility. (n.d.). Smoking alcohol drugs & fertility.
[3] Your Fertility. (n.d.). Age and fertility.
[4] Better Health Channel. (2018). Infertility in Women.
[5] Camille Sallée, Uterine Factor Infertility, a Systematic Review
[6] Healthy Male. (2016). Male infertility.
[7] Better Health Channel. (2018). Weight, fertility and pregnancy health
[8] Andrology Australia. (2016). Male infertility.
[9] Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand. (n.d.). Assisted reproductive treatment (ART).